Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq
Iraq: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 32.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
32.0%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
19th
of 187 countries
All-time high
35.7%
in 2021
All-time low
15.2%
in 1994
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Iraq recorded 32.0% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 49.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq peaked at 35.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 1994.
Iraq ranks 19th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.7% | — |
| 1992 | 15.3% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 15.4% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 15.2% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 15.6% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 15.8% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 15.5% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 15.3% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 15.3% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 15.5% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 16.0% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 16.6% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 17.3% | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 17.0% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 16.8% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 17.2% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 16.9% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 16.5% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 16.1% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 17.9% | +11.3% |
| 2014 | 19.9% | +11.1% |
| 2015 | 21.4% | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 25.3% | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 27.3% | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 29.8% | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 34.5% | +15.8% |
| 2021 | 35.7% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 31.8% | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 31.5% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 31.7% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 32.0% | +0.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 32.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 32.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.9%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.4% | 15.2% | 15.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.7% | 15.5% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 16.1% | 29.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.9% | 31.5% | 35.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 16 New Caledonia 33.1% compare
- 17 Syrian Arab Republic 33.1% compare
- 18 Yemen 32.6% compare
- 20 Georgia 30.3% compare
- 21 Algeria 29.4% compare
- 22 North Macedonia 28.8% compare
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1939 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1833 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2038 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 65,560 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,931 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 50,009 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,640 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 100,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq was 32.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 1994.
- How does Iraq rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iraq ranks 19th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.